Miner rebuked, but won't be punished, for violating board policy

Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 10:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 10:58 p.m.

BRADENTON - Strong emotional attachment to McKelvey Park was the focal point on Tuesday night as the school district’s superintendent underestimated it and a School Board member improperly displayed it.

Facts

IN OTHER ACTION

Also Tuesday: the district said it will put off making a decision on the future of bus service to charter schools.

The district’s transportation department provides bus service to four charter schools in the county, with Rowlett Elementary students scheduled to receive service next year.

The district says it loses $520,944 per year as part of the service.

The options being considered are that the charter schools will use district transportation with no subsidized costs to the district.

The charter schools could contract with independent contractors.

Or they could continue the same way with analysis taking place over the next year for future options.

The Manatee County School District said it will not discipline board member Dave Miner after an inquiry determined that he broke board policy by using his position to support the park.

The district had been exploring a possible sale of the popular park, which covers four acres just to the north of Miller Elementary School in Bradenton.

Last week, superintendent Rick Mills said he does not intend to sell the property, even as the district continues to cope with serious budget shortcomings.

At a School Board meeting Tuesday night, Mills reiterated he is not interested in selling the property, saying he came to understand the attachment the community has to the park at a neighborhood meeting two weeks ago.

“I knew the park was emotional but I didn’t realize the tradition those acres represented to the community,” Mills said. “I came to appreciate the symbolic and emotional attachment to that piece of property and I regret not having a full understanding of what that property meant to the community.

“I am committed to keeping McKelvey Park.”

Miner, meanwhile, was a strong supporter of keeping the park, but carried his support too far, district investigator Troy Pumphrey concluded in a report released Tuesday.

On April 25, Miner spoke to the faculty at Miller Elementary and encouraged teachers and staff to attend Mills’ neighborhood meeting concerning the park.

Miner also encouraged them to contact Mills in an attempt to stop any potential sale and the possibility that a developer could turn the park into a strip mall.

At the meeting before the school employees, Miner said, “West Bradenton needs another strip mall like Dolly Parton needs a third breast,” the report said.

Miller Elementary Principal Barry Dunn said in the report that two staff members were offended by Miner’s remark.

Pumphrey originally went to Miller Elementary to investigate those incidents only to come across other concerns regarding Miner’s actions.

On April 28, Dunn was notified by a teacher that Miner was on campus during the dismissal of students handing out “Save McKelvey Park” flyers.

Dunn, according to the report, told Miner he was violating School Board policy and Miner responded he was not handing them out and walked away.

Miner then went to the bus ramp and continued handing them out and Pumphrey wrote in the report there is video of Miner doing so.

On May 6, Pumphrey received a letter from Dunn that said Miner had been defiant to an assistant principal when he was asked to leave campus because he was giving an on-camera interview with a School Board ID badge on.

Dunn also said in the letter that Miner’s actions have “hindered my ability to effectively run my school and the distractions have caused undue stress on myself and my staff.”

School Board attorney James Dye said Tuesday night that “this is board policy and you have to be cognizant of it and behave accordingly.”

But Dye also added, “From here I don’t think it goes any further.”

In his opening remarks, Mills was open and candid about the unexpected challenges he has faced since becoming superintendent.

He mentioned the financial challenges the district has faced, the recent discussions over McKelvey Park that turned heated, and the situation that Manatee High has faced the past year in the wake of the Rod Frazier groping case.

“The challenges are more formidable than I knew when I accepted the job,” Mills said. “I’m pointing the finger at myself.

“I realize my own personal preferences will not win the day and I’m ready to accept that moving forward.”

<p><em>BRADENTON</em> - Strong emotional attachment to McKelvey Park was the focal point on Tuesday night as the school district's superintendent underestimated it and a School Board member improperly displayed it.</p><p>The Manatee County School District said it will not discipline board member Dave Miner after an inquiry determined that he broke board policy by using his position to support the park.</p><p>The district had been exploring a possible sale of the popular park, which covers four acres just to the north of Miller Elementary School in Bradenton.</p><p>Last week, superintendent Rick Mills said he does not intend to sell the property, even as the district continues to cope with serious budget shortcomings.</p><p>At a School Board meeting Tuesday night, Mills reiterated he is not interested in selling the property, saying he came to understand the attachment the community has to the park at a neighborhood meeting two weeks ago.</p><p>“I knew the park was emotional but I didn't realize the tradition those acres represented to the community,” Mills said. “I came to appreciate the symbolic and emotional attachment to that piece of property and I regret not having a full understanding of what that property meant to the community.</p><p>“I am committed to keeping McKelvey Park.”</p><p>Miner, meanwhile, was a strong supporter of keeping the park, but carried his support too far, district investigator Troy Pumphrey concluded in a report released Tuesday.</p><p>On April 25, Miner spoke to the faculty at Miller Elementary and encouraged teachers and staff to attend Mills' neighborhood meeting concerning the park.</p><p>Miner also encouraged them to contact Mills in an attempt to stop any potential sale and the possibility that a developer could turn the park into a strip mall.</p><p>At the meeting before the school employees, Miner said, “West Bradenton needs another strip mall like Dolly Parton needs a third breast,” the report said.</p><p>Miller Elementary Principal Barry Dunn said in the report that two staff members were offended by Miner's remark.</p><p>Pumphrey originally went to Miller Elementary to investigate those incidents only to come across other concerns regarding Miner's actions.</p><p>On April 28, Dunn was notified by a teacher that Miner was on campus during the dismissal of students handing out “Save McKelvey Park” flyers.</p><p>Dunn, according to the report, told Miner he was violating School Board policy and Miner responded he was not handing them out and walked away.</p><p>Miner then went to the bus ramp and continued handing them out and Pumphrey wrote in the report there is video of Miner doing so.</p><p>On May 6, Pumphrey received a letter from Dunn that said Miner had been defiant to an assistant principal when he was asked to leave campus because he was giving an on-camera interview with a School Board ID badge on.</p><p>Dunn also said in the letter that Miner's actions have “hindered my ability to effectively run my school and the distractions have caused undue stress on myself and my staff.”</p><p>School Board attorney James Dye said Tuesday night that “this is board policy and you have to be cognizant of it and behave accordingly.”</p><p>But Dye also added, “From here I don't think it goes any further.”</p><p>In his opening remarks, Mills was open and candid about the unexpected challenges he has faced since becoming superintendent.</p><p>He mentioned the financial challenges the district has faced, the recent discussions over McKelvey Park that turned heated, and the situation that Manatee High has faced the past year in the wake of the Rod Frazier groping case.</p><p>“The challenges are more formidable than I knew when I accepted the job,” Mills said. “I'm pointing the finger at myself.</p><p>“I realize my own personal preferences will not win the day and I'm ready to accept that moving forward.”</p>